New subject: Apple II APL Board?

30 Apr 2003

Stan Sieler wrote:

...
  Re:
 > -	the ability to support off topic conversations along with on-
 > topic ones without burdening those not interested in one or the  other
...
   -	the ability
to easily search archives for topics of interest
 -	the ability to keep ?threads? of discussion together
 -	the ability to categorize these threads for easier research  
 That's all easily achievable with the current CC-TALK/CC-TECH.
 ...just use a small prefix (from a small set of group endorsed ones).

 E.g.:   OT: iraqi playing cards
 where "OT" means "Off Topic"

I agree that we could implement that.  It becomes a little more 
complicated when you try to generate the "group endorsed" prefixes and, 
once you do, keeping those in the public eye so folks use them.  I like 
the idea, though, and think it would make the list easier to use.

We already have OT, FS and FA of course.  What other prefixes could we 
have?  HW and SW?  OS?  PRG?  HLP?

...
  The inherent problem with the current vcforum web
interface is the  large
...
  amount of extra work that people need to do to use it.
 With CC-TALK,  all the
...
  current posts are visible (one per line) on my screen.
 With vcforum,  I
...
  have to scroll the index web page to see what sections
have new posts.
 For each section with a new post, I have to click on it (deciding  whether or
...
  not to click-into-new-window or
click-into-same-window), just to see  the list
...
  of topics in that section.  Then I have to potentially
scroll (not  now, but
...
  later, as more topics are posted) to see which topics
have new  posts ...
...
  the end result it that it takes me 10 to 20 times
longer to "catch  up" as
...
  it does with CC-TALK/CC-TECH. 
I don't think it's all that difficult to navigate although it is 
different from an email interface and there are disadvantages inherent 
in the greater flexibility.  Once you get used to it, however, I think 
it takes just as much time to remain "caught up."

On the other hand, you can eliminate topics you don't care about a lot 
easier by simply tracking messages in the forums you are most 
interested in.  If you have no interest in Apple or Unix or the Off 
Topic discussions you need never visit those boards.  CCTalk will 
always send you those messages.

The thing that I like the most about a threaded message board is that 
you can view the entire discussion without any heavy manipulations.  If 
I want to do that with the mail list I have to either visit the 
archives or use my mail program to sort on message header (assuming 
that hasn't been changed mid-thread).  As of right now I have nearly 
29,000 CCTalk messages in my outlook CCTalk folder.  Even with a P4 2.4 
and 1GB of RAM resorting that list is slow.

...
  Could this be fixed?  Yes.  There could be an
alternate presentation  page which
...
  lists all new posts, one per line ... sortable by
topic or date- posted.
...
  I should be able to quickly mark any I wish as
"ignore" (aka "delete"  in a
...
  mail reader).  However, most web based forums use the
server to  accomplish
...
  updates, as opposed to doing more work just behind the
glass (e.g.,  java
...
  to collect the updates/markings/wishes and then upload
the set to the  server).
...
  That's easier, of course, but clearly makes for
more work and/or  slower
...
  response for the user. 
The "new posts since my last visit" link is my favorite on bigger 
boards.  I hope that this new forum gets the kind of reception that 
makes that feature useful.  If enough people sign up and start using 
the forums they'll hit "critical mass" which will make them that much 
more useful.

...
  One person's comments, anyway :) 
Thanks, Stan!  I do appreciate the feedback!

   Erik

Vintage Computer Message Board